Domestic violence charges dropped against Ayala

Daniel Tepfer

Updated 11:22 pm, Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Christina Ayala is arraigned in Superior Court, in Bridgeport, Conn. Dec. 4th, 2012 after she was charged with breach of peace following a argument with her boyfriend. A state prosecutor Wednesday dropped domestic violence charges against Ayala, who has since been installed as a state Representative.
Photo: Ned Gerard

"This case was handled like any other domestic violence case," Senior Assistant State's Attorney Kevin Dunn explained. "She completed her counseling, she complied with the protective order, we monitored the case long enough to ensure her compliance."

Neither Ayala nor her lawyer, Guy Soares, would comment as they left the Golden Hill Street courthouse.

Under a nolle such as this, the prosecution is suspended for 13 months, then dismissed.

The case is not expected to affect Ayala's pending motor vehicle hit-and-run case, which is scheduled for a probation hearing Friday.

Last December Ayala, 29, who represents the 128th District, and her then-boyfriend, Pedro Rodriguez-Ortiz, were charged with breach of peace after police were called to their Hillside Avenue home.

When police arrived, they said they found Rodriguez-Ortiz, 37, standing on the front porch in an intoxicated state. Police said they asked him who was inside and he responded: "My girlfriend, state Representative Ayala."

Police said Ayala told them everything was fine and that she did not call police.

She told officers her boyfriend had been out drinking and cheating on her, they had had an argument and were yelling at each other. During the argument, Rodriguez-Ortiz called 911, but no one had hit the other, she told officers.

The report states that Rodriguez-Ortiz then began yelling at officers, "You're a politician and you aren't going to do (expletive)." They said Rodriguez-Ortiz told them he was sleeping on a couch and Ayala came over and slapped him on the left side of the face.

But as officers questioned him, they said Rodriguez-Ortiz became argumentative, yelling and swearing, so they arrested him.

In the meantime, officers continued to question Ayala. They said she first denied slapping Rodriguez-Ortiz and then admitted she had.

Rodriguez-Ortiz, who has a criminal record, later pleaded guilty to creating a public disturbance.